Type-writing machine.



' No. 820,935. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

H. A. MOYER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.15,1905.

HEET 1.

PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

H. A. MOYER.

' TYPE'WRITING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAR.16,'1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MTTURNEK PATENTED MAY 15,1906:

H. A. MOYER.

' TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FIL ED MAR.15.;905.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

"UNITED ST-ASEiPA'IENT oFFron.

HARVEY A. MOYER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TYPE-WFlITING MACHINE.

} Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed March 15, 1905. Serial No. 250,245;

commonly known as front-strike or visihlewriting" machines, and'refers more particularly to the type-bar action.- In this class of machines the type-bars are pivotally hung in a substantially vertical arc and are each. provided with lower and'upper case characters adapted to be brou ht to the same printin -point at the front of a suitable platen.

n my present machine each type-bar action comprises a key-lever, an intermediary lever fulcrumed at its lower end separate from the key-lever and having its upper end linked to the heel of the type-bar, and an equalizing draw-bar connectin the intermediate portion of the interme iate lever di' rectly to the key-lever.

Thelower ends of the intermediate levers are mounted side'b'y side upon the same horizontalfiic'ed ai'cisor fulcrum, and their upper ends are disposedin an arc concentric with the arc in which the type-bars are pivoted, and therefore these intermediary levers gradually increase in length from the center toward the ends of the arc.

The primary object of this construction is to obtain a simple, quick, and easy action of the type bar with a comparatively light stroke of the key-lever. I

Another object of equal importance is to enable eachdraw-bar to be adjusted to a nicety, according to thelcngth ofits intermediary lever, to produce the same travel or throw of the type-bars with a uniform degree of. pressure upon and movement of the keylevers.

A further object is to bring the key-levers and intermediary levers into such relative convergence that the collective transverse widths at the points of connection of the drawbars with the intermediary and key levers is substantially equal, whereby the drawbars are caused to travel in substantially arallel vertical planes, wh le the intermediary levers swing in converging planes.

.i still further object is to converge the keylevel s in straight lines from their keys to their fulcrums and to dispose the fulcrums man...

tional View of a portion of a-front-strike writing-machine, showing 111 top plan myim )roved system of key-levers and a portion of the system of type-bars and their connection with their respective key-levers and also showing a portion of a type-bar segment and its shifting mechanism. Fi 2 is a transverse vertical sectional-view ta en on line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking toward the'front of the machine. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view througlrthe center of the l-nachine, showing the central and extreme end type-bars and their actuating key-levers, the end t.- vpe-bar being shown in its printing position. v Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, except that the intermediary levers and draw-bars are connected to 'draw forwardly instead of rearwardly.

In carrying out the objects stateda series of straight rearwardly-converging key-levers 1 are symmetrically arranged side by side within the base of a substantially rectangular frame A-and are fulcrumed at their rear ends in a horizontal circular segment 2, having its center at the point of convergence of the lines of the key-levers, so that each fulcrum is disposed at right angles to its key-lever and allows a free vertical movement of the individual keys without liability of lateral rocking or torsional strains. These several keylevers are therefore fulcrumed at their rear ends in a horizontal circular arc and radiate forwardly from said are in straight diverging lines and in substantially the same horizontal )lane,

and their front endsterminate in su stantially straight transverse rows and are equipped with suitable finger-keys in straight transverse rows, which are step )ed in the usual manner for single keyboards and bear the usual double-vase characters.

A corresponding number of type-bars 3 are pivoted at 4 in a substantially vertical circular are above the key-levers 1 to cause their type to strike upwardly and rearwardly at one and the same printing-point and against the front 1 side of a superimposed platen 5. These typebars are normally dis osed in a substantially horlzontal position with their front ends resting on a suitable circular seat 6 and their rear ends fulcrumed in a substantially vertical circular Segment 7 and connected by linksS to a system of'intermediary levers 9 of the third order, which in turn are connected to their resp'ective' key-levers by a system of equalizing draw-bars 10, all of which parts are so rela tively arranged as to afiord ample clearance for the free movement of each individual type-bar action without friction or interference'one with the other and to enable each type-bar to be thrown to the printing position with the same uniform degree of pressure and movement of the key-lever.

In order to carry out this purpose, ';the lower ends of the intermediary levers 9 are fulcrumed side by side upon the same fixed horizontal axis or bar 11, running transversely of and directly above the key-levers 1, and are i spaced apart a sufficient distance to afford ample clearance and in such mannerthat the collective width of-the lower-ends of the intermediary levers is substantially equal to the collective width of the key-levers in a line directly beneath the axis of said intermediary levers, such transverse width being greater than the chord of the arc in which the typebars are pivoted. This arrangement brings the lower ends of the intermediary levers directly above their respective key-levers and at substantially right angles to their axis; but from this point substantially all the interme 1 diary leversconverge upwardly at the rear of ally-deflected ends of the levers 9 in arcs which are also substantially parallel with the arc in which the type-bars are pivoted, so that each link 8 travels in the same plane as its typebar without cramping or twisting its pivotal ends. I

In like manner the lower ends of the levers 9 at n are disposed at right angles to'their axis and swing freely without cramping or twisting in their bearings, and this, together with the radial upper extra rmties swinging in the plane of movement of the type-bars,renders the type-bar action exceedingly easy and responsive to the touch on the keys and adds materiall and durability of the machine.'

It is also clear that by pivoting these levers 9 on the same horizontal axis andterminatto the permanency of alinement easyan s eedy'type-bar action. p I p the key-levers smear;

I ing the upper ends in an arc substantiallypaifallel with the arc in which the type-bars are pivoted the levers 9 gradually increase in length from the center toward the ends of the arc, and therefore those of diflerent length re uire a different degree of movement to throw t eir type-bars through equal arcs from their normal -to their printing positionsthat'is, the free ends of the levers 9 travel substantially the same distance, but the angle through which the longer levers move is less than that through which the shorter levers travel.

' Now one of the main objects which I have sought to' carry out is to connect these.vari-' I ous lengths of intermediary levers to their respective key-levers in such manner that each type-bar is brought toits printing position by the same uniform degree of ressure and stroke of its key-lever and to ma c this stroke and pressure as light as practicable. In other words, I have not only sou ht to equaliz'e, but to reduce, key-levers and .t e-bars through the medium of the equalizmg draw-bars 10 and their particular system of connections with the ey-levers 1 and intermediary levers 9. This he leverage etweenthe is best accomplished, as seen in Figs. 1 to 3,,

inclusive, by pivotally connecting the upper endsof the draw-bars 10 to the intermediary levers 9 at the same distance above the ful crum 11 and their-lower ends .to the horresponding key-levers 1 at different" distances at the rear of said'i'ulc'rum, but in front of the fulcrum of the key-levers, in such manner as to substantially equalize the leverage, so that the equalizing draw-bars incline downwardly and rearwardlyin substantially straight lines and in practically parallel longitudinal vertical planes from the intermediary to the'k'ey levers and operate to rock the intermediary levers 9 rearwardly when the key-levers are printing positions.

It will be observed that the longer interf mediary levers 9 require less movement, but

greater power, to throw their type-bars to the printing position thanthe shorter ones, and in order to compensate for this inequality in themovement and power the equalizing draw-bars for the longer levers are connected to their key-levers at gradually-increasing position with a comparativelygslight depresdepressed to 'throw'the type-bars to their be thrown to the printing sion of and with the same u "formLpower or touch u on the key, thereby/s establishing an e equalizing draw-bars are substantially e ual and cause said draw-bars to act upon t e intermediary levers in substantially vertical longitudinal planes, as best seen in Fig. 2, while the intermediary levers swing in upwardlyconverging planes. U It will be seen that by pivotally attaching each draw bar to its intermediary and key lever in the manner described only a very slight movement of the key-1ever is required to throw the type-bar through its full arc of movement and that, owing to this fact, the action of the typ e-bar isalmost instantaneous with the first touch of the key, thereby obviating the necessity for any special devices for producing the usual slidingmotion, such as slotted type-bars and cams and other diflerential-leverage devices, which are always diflicult to make and add materially to the cost of production and necessary re airs of the machine.

n Fig. 4 I have shown the intermediary levers 9 as linked to their type-bars below their type-bar pivots, while the equalizing draw-bars are connected to their respective intermediary and key levers in front mstead of at the rear of the fulcrums 11, so that as the key-lever is depressed the intermediary levers are rocked forwardly to throw the type-bars to their printing position. i In this case the power and key-stroke equalizing effect is produced by connecting the equalizing draw-bars at different distances from the fulcrums of both the intermediary and key levers; otherwise the advantages are substantially the same as those described for the constructions seen in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

In this class of machines the tyne-bars are usually equipped with plural characters, or lower and upper case type, and therefore it becomes necessary to shift either the typebars or platen to cause the type of either case L to print at one and the same point.

lnorder to show a complete operative device, so far as the type-bar action is concerned, I have shown said ty e-bars aspivoted to a verticallyshiftab e se ment 7, "which is carried upon the inner en s of a U- shape lever-frame 21 and is further supported by suitable bracing-arms 22.

The segment preferably consists of twothis being to facilitate the manufacture of the segment Secured to the ends of the segment are depending brackets 25, to the lower ends of which the inner ends of the lever 21 are pivoted. This lever 21 is fulcrumed at 26 to the oppositesides of the fr:- rne A of the machine,

and its front end isprovided with suitable shift-keys 20, by which the lever-frame 21 mg be operated to shift the segment vertica y.

The bracing-arms 23 are pivoted at their rear ends to the opposite sides of the main frame A, and their front ends are pivoted to the upper ends of the brackets 25 and serve to steady the segment 7 in its verticallyshifting movement.

It is to be further understood, however, that I do not limit myself to any particular form of segment and that I reserve the right 'touse any means for shifting either the segment or platen.

The particular form of shifting mechanism herein shown and particularly described is equally ap licable for shifting the platen, and I conteinp ate filing a separate application upon a shifting mechanism embodying ,essene tiall the features herein shown and described. T e operation of my invention is fully incornorated in the foregoing description,which is eemed sufficiently clear and exact to enable any one skilled in the art to construct and operate the machine, and it is clearly evi dent that some change may be made in adapting the type-bar action to a platenshift machine without departing from the spirit of my invention -as, for instance, the upper end of the intermediary levers may be connected directly to the heel of the type-bar and other minor changes 'may be made to conform to different styles of segments and. ty e-bars.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is v 1. In a front-strike type-writing machine, a series of type-bars pivoted in a circular arc to strike at the same printing-point, in combination with a system of key-levers converging rearwardly from their keys instraight lines and fulcrumed at their rear ends in a horizontal arc struck from the point of convergence of said lines, a system of upwardly converging intermediary levers fulcrumed at their lower ends in a straight line transversely of the key-levers and having their upper ends disposed in an arc and connected to the typebars, and a system of equalizing draw-bars attached to the intermediary levers above their'fulcrums and to the key-levers at one side of their fulcrums, said draw-bars being attached to one system of levers at different points in their lengths to equalize the power and degree of movement necessary to throw the type-bars to the printing petition.

2.- In a front-strike type-writing machine,

the combination with a system oftypebars,

of a system of key-levers converging rearwardly in straight lines from pointsydirec-tly below their keys to their :tulcrums, and tulerumed at their rear ends, u wardly-converging intermediary levers lcrumed at their lower ends and having their upper ends connected to the type-bars, and connections IO, levers to their respective intermediary levers whereby motion is transmitted from the key,

to actuate the type-bar. 3. In atr-onhstri-ke type-writing machine,

' t he combin-ation with a system of type-bars,

of a system of key-levers converging rearwardly in straight lines from points directly g as ' same printing-poinh-a series of upwardly-conbelowtheir keys to their fulcrums and fulcrumed at their rear ends,"upwardlyconverging intermediary levers Eulcrumed at their lower ends and having their upper ends. connected to the type-bars, and draw-bars attached directly to the key-levers and :to their corresponding intermediary levers.

4. In a front-strike type-writing machine,

the combination with a system of type-bars, of a system of key-levers converging rearwa'rdly from their keys in straight lines and fulcrumed at their rear ends, upwardly-"converging intermediary levers, .fulcrumed' at their lower ends and having their upper .ends connected to the type-bars, and draw-bars connected to said levers at such points as will cause each type-bar to move through an equal are by an equal depression of each keylever.

5.- In combination with a platen, a series of type-bars pivoted in an arc to strike at the verging intermediary levers fulcrumed on a common axis below the type-bars and having .their upper ends disp'osedcin an arc and each linked to one of the. type-bars, horizontal key-levers, equalizing draw-bars each having its upper end pivoted directly to one of the first-named levers at a point above its fulcrum and its lower end pivoted directly to the keylever.

. end pivotally attached directly to once i 6. lIn a front-strike type-writing machine,

the combination with a platen, pivoted typebars and horizontal key-levers, of upwardlyconverging intermediary levers fulcrumed' on a common axis above the key-levers and below-the type-bars and having their free ends connected to their respective typebars, and equalizing draw-bars each havmg ts lower end pivoted to the key-lever and its u pler t e intermediary levers between its fulcrum and :eonnectionwith the-type-zbar.

figs

7. In a front-strike type-writing machine, a system of type-levers pivoted in a vertical arc, a system of key-devers'having their ful- 'crums arranged in a horizontal arc, said key- !levers extending forwardly from their tulcrums in straight lines radial to-said horizon sad-9313 talarc, a system of upright intermediary levers having their fulcruins'disposed in a straight line transversely of the key-levers, said internlediary levers gradually increasing in length from the center toward the side of the machine and converging upwardly from their fi-ilcrums, links connecting the upper ends of said levers with their respective type-levers and a system of equalizing draw-bars each pivotally connected to one of the key-levers and to the intermediary levers in transverse lines where the collective width of the keylevers is substantially equal to the collective width of the intermediary levers.

8. In a front-strike type-writing machine,

the combination with a platen of type-levers fulcrumed in the arc of a circle having its center at the printing-point, upwardly-converging intermediary levers'iu'lcrumed .on a fixed commonaxis below the typ e-leversand gradually increasing in lengths from the center toward the ends of the arc, said intermediary levers having their, upperends connected to their respective type-levers, and key-levers con-verging rearw'ardly from their keys. in straight lines from points directly below their keys to their fulcrums and connected to the upright levers above their fulerutms.

the combination with a series of type-levers and key-levers, of a corresponding series of upward-1y converging intermediate levers fu'lcrumed on -a fixed common axis below the type-levers and connected to their respective type-levers, and equalizing draw-bars con nected at different lengthwise points to the key-levers and attached to the intermediary levers above their fulcrums.

10. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen and type-bars pivoted 9. In a front-strike type-writing machine,

in a ci'rculararc to strike the front face of the platen, 'o'f'a system of operating devices for the type-bars, each device including a keg-lever, an upright intermediary lever, an an equalizing draw-bar, said intermediary lever and'draw-bar converging upwardly :from the key-lever and pivotally attached at their points of convergence, each intermediary lelength from the center tower the ends of the are, the 11- per ends being in planes radial to such arc, inks connecting the upper ends of theintermedriary levers to their respective type ba-r's, key-levers, one for each type-bar, and equalizing draw bars extending upwa-rdly from and pivotally attached to the key-levers and having their upper ends piv- 50 bars.

7 oted to theinrespective intermediate levers above the fulcrums of said intermediate levers.

12. The combination with a platen, typebars and key-levers of a front-strike type:

Writin machine,- of upwardly-converging 1n- .terrne: iate levers pivoted at their lower ends in the same horizontal line and having their upper ends linked to their respective type- 10 bars, and equalizing draw-bars of different len ths connecting the intermediate levers wit their key-levers.

v 13. .In a=type-writing machine, the combination with a platen, of a plurality of typebars pivoted in an arc to strike at the same printing-point at the front side of the platen, upwardly-converging intermediary levers fulcrumed at their lower ends and having their upper ends radial tosaid are and connected tothe'type-bars, ke -levers converging rears wardly from their eys in straight vertical planes, and-equalizing draw-bars attached directly to the intermediary and key levers.

151. The combination with theplaten and 2 5 type-bars of a front-strike type-writing ma- 0 me, ofa system of rearwardly-converging key-levers, and a system of upwardly-con- Verging intermediate levers, draw-bars pivoted to the key-levers and to the intermedi- 3p ate levers, the collective width of the key-levers at their points of connection with the draw-bars being substantially equal to the collective width of the intermediatelovers at theirpoint of, connectionwith said draw-bars. 3-5 15. The combination with the platen and type-liars of a front-strike type-writing ma- 0 me, of a system of rearwardly-converging key-levers, a system of upwardly-convergin g intermediate levers fulcrumed at their lower 40 ends on the same horizontal axis above and transversely of the key-levers and their upper ends connected to the type-bars, and equalizing draw-bars connecting the intermediary to the key levers, the collective 4.5 transverse Width of the key-levers at their oints of connection with the draw-bars being substantially equal to the collective transverse width of the intermediary levers at their points of connection with said draw- 7 16. In a type-writing machine, aseries of type-bars V ivoted in a circular arc, in combination wit 1 upwardly-converging intermediate levers fulcrumed at their lower ends and 5 5" all having ,their upper ends disposed in planes radial to said are and connected to the typev.bars, and a system of key-levers each connected to its'intermediary lever.

, 17. The combination with a series of t pcbars pivoted in an arc to strike at one ami the same printing-point, of a system of key-levers, intermediary levers fulcrumed at their lower ends on the same horizontal axis and at right angles thereto, and having their upper 6 5 ends disposed in planes radial to said are and connected to the typabars, and draw-bars connected to the intermediary and key'levers at such points as willmovc the up or ends of the mtermediary levers equal istances by substantially the same stroke of the key-levers. I 18. The combination with a platen and a series of type-bars pivoted in an arc to strike at the same printing-point at the front side of the platen, of a system of key-levers converging rearwardly in straight lines from their keys and having their front ends terminating in straight transverse rows and their rear ends engaging fulcrums which are arranged in a horizontal are, each key-lever having suitable connection witlrits type bar to throw the latter to its printing position.

19. In combination with aplaten and a series of type-bars pivoted in an arc to strike at the same rinting-point at the front side'vof the platen, of a system of key-levers converging rearwardly in straight lines from their keys and having their front ends terminating in straight transverse rows and their rearends.

engaging fulcrums which are arranged in a horizontal arc, and intermediate levers fulcrumed at their lower ends and each connected to one of the type-bars and to its correspondin key-lever.

20. The combination with a platen and a series oftype-bars pivoted in an arc to strike at the 'same-printing-point fat the front side of the platen, of a system of key-levers converging rearwardly in straight lines from their keys and having their front ends terminating in straight transverse rows and their rear ends engaging fulcrums which are arranged in a horizontal are, intermediary levers fulcrumed at their lower ends and having their upper ends connected to the typebars and e ualizing draw-bars each connected to one 0 said intermediary lovers and to its corresponding key-lever.

21. The combination with a platen and a series of type-bars pivoted in an arc to strike at the same printing-point at the front side of the platen, of a system of key-levers converging rearwardly in straight vertical planes from their keys, and having their front ends terminating in straight transverse rows'and their rear ends fulcrumed in a transverse line, 11 Wardly-converging intermediary 'levers fu crumed at their lower ends and having their upper ends connected tothe typebars, and equalizing draw-bars connected to their respective intermediary levers and keylevers.

22. The combination with a platen and a series of type-bars pivoted in an arc to strike at the same printing-point at the front side of the platen, of a system of key-levers converging rearwardly in straight lines from their keys, and having their front ends termimating in straight transverse rows and their rear ends engaging fulcrums which are ar- ITO ranged in a horizontal arc, u wardly-converging intermediary levers their lower ends on a fixed horizontal ax 1s and having their upper ends disposed .111

lanes radial to the arc in which the type a'rs are ivoted and connected to said typebars, an draw-bars connectlng said intermediary levers to. their respective key-levers.

23. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a laten and type-bars pivoted in an arc to stri 'e at the same printing-point, of a system ofrearWardly-converging key-. levers, a system of upwardly-converging-intermediary levers, and draw-bars pivotally connected to the intermedia levers and to the key-levers, the collective width of the keylevers at their points of connection with the levers in throWin draw-bars being s'ubstantiall equal to the collective transverse width 0 theintermediary levers at their points of c'onnection'with said draw-bars.

24. In a type-writing machine, the coinbination with a la'ten' and'type-bars pivoted in a substantial ly vertical arc, of a system of keylevers fulcrumed in a substantially horizontal arc, intermediary levers fulcrumed at their lower ends on a horizontal axis and having their upper ends disposed ina vertical arc and connected to the type-bars, and drawbars connected to the levers in such manner as to equalize the stroke of the several keyg the-type-bars to the printing position.

25. In a front-strike type-writing machinea type-bar and a key-lever; the latter ful-. ruIned at its rear end in combination with an upright rock-arm linked to'the heel of the ulcrumed at type-bar, and a draw-bar attached to the rockarm and also pivotally attached to the keyy lever. in the plane of a direct line drawn between the fulcrum and key of the key-lever. 26. In a type-writin machine a' serles of type-bars pivoted in t e are of a circle .to

strike u wardly and rearwardlyya system of upward y-converging rocklev.ers, each linked to one of the type-bars, a system of key-levers converging rearwardly in straight vertical planes from their keys to their fulcrums, and a system of equalizing draw-bars arranged -,in parallel vertical planes running from front to rear and each connecting one of the rock-levers to one of the key-levers.

27. In a front-strike type-Writing machine, a system oftype-bars pivoted in a circular arc, a system of key-levers converging rearwardly in straight vertical planes from their keys to their fulcrums, a system of intermediary levers having their lower ends disposed in parallel vertical planes andpivoted upon a common axis, and their upper ends disposed in planes substantially] parallel with the swinging planes of their respective t e-bars and connected to said type-bars, an a system of draw bars of varying lengths from the center toward the side of the machine, each of'saiddraw-bars connecting one of the intermedi'ary to one of the keylevers. 

